Corset



l,mnme 112, E923.

c. H. scHoPBAcH CORSET 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 24.

- LJJF@ J,

June E2, i923.

C- H'. SCHOPBACH CORSET Filac Dec. 24

1920 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 illYllll LII I l Patented .lune l2, 1923i.

critics.

CHARLES H. SCHOPBACH, OF AURORA, LLLINOIS, ASSGNOR TO INTERNATIONALCORSET COMPANY, OF AURORA, ILLNOIS, .-l. CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

CORSET.

.Application filed December 24, 1920. Serial No. 432,993,

To all wibo/m t may concern:

Be it known that CHARLES H. Sonor- BACH, a citizen of the 'UnitedStates, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the reference characters marked thereon,which form a part of this specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in corsets and the main object ofthe invention is to provide an improved insert for a corset which issuitably stiffened and supported in the front and at the saine time,provided with flexible means at the upper front portion which yieldsreadily to conform to the contour of the ligure and also as the wearermay bend or move the body, thus avoiding discomfort to the wearer.

My invention comprises the making of a stay strip of metal sufficientlythick and stiff to perform its intended function as a stiffening stay,which strip shall not extend to the top edge of the corset, and inapplying thereto at its upper end, one or a plurality of relativelythin, flexible, shorter metal strips which extend from the firstmentioned strip to substantially the top margin of the corset.

The further objects and advantages relating to the structural details ofmy invention will more denitely appear from the following description ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates in a front elevation, a portion of a front lace, front opening corset, embodying my invention. a

Figs. 2 and 3 are views,in front elevation, of two metal stay strips,with the flexible metal strips attached.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the metal strip shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of the cloth covering .for the upper end of thefieXible metal strips, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and3.

Fig. 6 is a transverse, sectional view of the .cloth cover shown in Fig.5, taken in `the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. is a vertical, sectional view of one of the corset stays, the samebeing taken in the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view of the same, taken on the planeindicated by the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a piece of cloth to which certain hooks aresecured. Fig. 10 is va similar view of a piece of cloth to which certaineyes are attached.

Fig. 11 is a transverse, sectional view through a pair of corset staysat the front of the corset, the section being taken on the planeindicated by the dotted line 11-11 of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a similarsectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line 12 12 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a similar view taken in the plane indicated by the dottedline 13-13 of Fig. 1, broken away, for convenience in drawing, at theright hand portion.

In the drawing, A represents one of the two front body sections of acorset, its front edge being provided with one of a pair of staysindica-ted as a whole by the letter B. The other corset stay which isremovably secured to the stay B is indicated as a whole by the letter C.D indicates the usual lacings which unite the stay C through a series ofeyelets c with a front st-ay (not shown) on the front margin of theother body section of the corset, in a familiar manner.

As shown in the drawings and more particularly in Figs. 1, 2, 5, G, 10,11, 12 and 13, the stay B is constructed as follows: A metal stiffeningbody cr insert strip 1, of such length as not to extend the full lengthof the front of the corset, is provided with a plurality of eyeletmembers 2 of the corset clasps, said clasp members 2 being shown asriveted to the metal stiffening insert strip 1, at 3. The strip 1 iscovered with an envelope i of any suitable material, but preferably ofpaper. The enveloping material is usually wrapped about the insert 1before the yclasp members 2 are secured thereto.

At the upper end of the body or insert strip 1 are shown a plurality ofshorter metal strips, 5, 6, 7, of different lengths, each being rivetedto 'the insert strip 1 by the rivet 8. This is the preferredconstruction of this improved stay member, but manifestly, the strip 5,or the strip 6, may be omitted. VThe strip or strips 5, 6, 7, arecoi/ered with a suitable enveloping material 9, preferably of fabricfolded longitudinally and stitched. as indicated atlG, to form a pocket11, which pocket encloses the strip or strips. rllhe enveloping fabric 9has a flap portieri 12 in addition to the pocket 11. The metal meinberthus described and shown in Fig. 2, env closed as hereinabove described,is then in serted within a pocket 13 formed in the margin of the frontof the body section in the usual manner. That is to say, a strip ofcloth 111 is. folded upon itself as shown more clearly in F ig. 12,andthen the 'fabric ci is vfolded about this cloth 141 and its lex-vthat the fiexible strips 5, (i, 7, attached thereto shall lie to theinside of the corset so as to bend outwardly when bending is required..Where three strips, 5. 6, 7, areused, the sti-ip 7 is placed nearest thebody of the wearer, the strip 5 toward the outside. of the corset, andthe strip 6 intermediate the two. '1t will be noted also that-thetop ofthe flexible strip 7 is near the top L of the corset; that the rivet Sis near the top 'of the insert strip 1 and also that the lower end 18 ofthe body or insert strip 1 does not extend to the lower edge of thecorset, as shown by the cutaway portion, Fig; 1.

Referringnow to Figs. 3, 1.1-, 7, 3, 11, 12 and '13, it. will be seenthat the other front stay member Cl is composed. of fabric with astiffening member and lacing eyelets arranged in three longitudinalsections; the outer or marginal section comprising a pocket 19, theinner marginal `section a pocket 20, and theintermediate sectionproviding' for the lacing eyelets, c. l/Vithin the pocket 19, l place ametal insert strip with a flexible upper end made in all respectssimilar to the insert strip 1, previously described, with the exceptionthat instead of the eyelet clasp member 2, a stud member 21 is used. ltwill be manifest, of course, that thetwo `parts 21 and 2 together form acorset clasp and function in a familiar manner.

Within the pocket 201 place a relatively flexible stiflening member 22of 'featherbone or thin metal, or other suitable material.

The fabric of which the stay strip C is com-A posed may be folded andstitched in any convenient manner, as for example, the manner indicatedin Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In order to secure the adjacentmargins B', C',of the stay members B, C, together, at points both above and below themetal strips 1, -ll

stitching 17, and the corresponding Hap A `member in the said member Cmay beseoured thereto v`by the eyelets c or bytherows of stitchingwhichformthe pocket 20, or both. f Then the parts Lthus described arefsecured together, the corset placed uponthe wearer, andjthe stays Band@ Vunited by means of the hooksand eyes 23, 23,` an d theclaspmeinbers;2, 21, it will befound that the central portion of the frontofthe corset v,will possess the. necessary Strength and stiffness byreason of the relative ri,- gidity of the metalinsert strips 1, whiletheupper portion thereof` vwill, lHex land bend readily to conform to thecontour` of the body `of the wearer and to anybending or other movementof the wearer; that this bending and flexure will not produce anydiscomfort to the wearer, or cause the breaking f the metal parts;` and,furthermorathat the construction is suchy that the flexible membersattached tothe insert strips 1, will yimmediately resume their normalposition when the wearer-resumes her natural lposition. As illustratedin Fig. 11, the hooks 23 and the eyes 23 are'securedto strips off-cloth,

24 and 25, respectively. It will be manifest that their positions ontheparts B aludv C are such as to afford thenecessary anddesirable relativemovement orplay between said hooks land eyes, when the latterfareengaged, whereby said hooks and eyes, when engaged, do not interferewith the free movement under fiexure ofthe upper, por tions 5, 6 and 7of theQmetal insert stripl. lt will be elearthat the hooks and', eyesare not attached directly to the. `strips 1, but to the edge of thepockets1 enclosi1 ig said strips. f By reason of this flexible connection and of the flexible connection between each hook and eye, andalso, because .of the flexibility due to what may bevcalled 'theswiveling movement in a horizontalwplane between each veye andl itsassociated. hook,

movement of. one stay to a limited extent independently of the otherstay, ispermitted.

To the: movementl which ispermitt'edbe tween each hook, fand its eye, isadded the swing allowed because of the' iexibilitywof the material ofwhich the pockets are formed. Thus a corset is produced which givesgreat comfort to the wearer and yet performs its intended function ofsupporting the body, throughout the lifetime of the garment as a whole.

It will be understood, of course, that the stay member attached to theyother margin of the corset body to which -the lacings D are secured,will be made precisely similar to the stay section C, but without thestud members and the hooks,-that is to say, it will contain a pocketprovided with a metal stay insert strip l, having one or a plurality ofshorter and relatively thinner, flexible strips riveted to the upper endthereof, to correspond to the stay members B and C.

It will also be understood that the thin strip or strips 5, 6, 7, shouldbe secured to the strip l in such manner as to be in prolongation of thelatter and not have any tendency to sidewise movementy with respect tothe strip l. ln other words, so secured as to remain in the pocket 2()and form a relatively firm abutment to resist the tension on the stay Cby the pull and strain of the lacings. This will normally be effected bythe single rivet 8 shown, but manifestly equivalent f'astenings (as vforexample, two rivets) may be used.

I claim as my invention:

1. An insert for corsets comprising a relatively rigid body portion anda plurality of strips attached to and forming a prolongation of saidbody portion and of greater flexibility than the latter, said insertbeing provided with clasp members upon its rigid body portion only.

2. An insert for corsets comprising a relatively rigid body portion anda plurality of strips attached to andy forming a prolongation of saidbody portion, said strips being arranged in overlapping relation each toeach, and of greater flexibility than said body portion, said bodyportion being pro-v lco-operating fastener members secured tol thematerial of the opposite pocket, substantially as described. n

4. A corset provided with a vertically extending pocket adjacent each ofits meeting edges, an insert in each pocket comprising a relativelyrigid body portion provided with corset clasps rigidly secured. thereto,a plurality of resilient strips of different length, free from claspmembers, positioned one upon the other and secured to said insert so asto project beyond the end and in prolongation thereof, the longest ofsaid strips being nearest the longitudinal center of the corset,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention l affix mysignature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 18th day of December,1920. I

CHARLES H. SCHOPBACH. Witnesses TAYLOR E. BROWN, B, L. MACGREGOR.

